Study finds that just 30 minutes a week can improve mood and self-esteem as
well as physical fitness

Gardeners have long extolled the virtues of losing an afternoon digging and weeding but now scientists have confirmed thattending an allotmentis good for your mental health.

Just 30 minutes a week spent pottering on the vegetable patch can boost feelings of both self-esteem and mood by dissolving tension, depression, anger, and confusion, a study found.

As an added bonus, those who have an allotment also tend to be in better physical shape than their less green-fingered counterparts, with a significantly lower body mass index.

Researchers from the Universities of Westminster and Essex said the positive impact was found across all social classes and suggested that allotments could help cut back growing NHS costs caused by lack of exercise and obesity.

Dr Carly Wood, a sports and exercise scientist at Essex University, said: "Participants who attend an allotment for a short period just once per week can experience a similar magnitude of improvements in self-esteem and mood as participants who attend more regularly for longer periods of time."

She said allotment gardeningcould contribute towards a greener and healthier economy focused on the prevention of ill-health.

“This preventative approach could result in substantial savings to the UK economy, particularly in the treatment of health conditions such as mental illness, obesity, cardiovascular disease and loneliness,” she added.

"Health organisations and policy makers should consider the potential of allotment gardening as a long-term tool for combatting ill-health.

Almost 270 participants, including both allotment gardeners from allotment sites in the North West England and non-gardeners, were questioned to determine the effect of allotment gardening on self-esteem and mood.

They filled out a questionnaire before and after allotment sessions which included questions on self-esteem and enjoyment, as well as compiling data such as BMI.

They were also asked about the length of time they spent doing allotment gardening.

"Health organisations and policy makers should consider the potential of allotment gardening as a long-term tool for combating ill-health."

Dr Carly Wood, sports and exercise scientist

Professor John Ashton, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health said: "For too long, the stigma and shame wrongly associated with mental illness has contributed to unhelpful notions about treating physical and mental health separately.

"We cannot have good physical health without also looking after our mental wellbeing. FPH would welcome more community allotments and opportunities for people to have access to safe, green spaces.

"Because there are long waiting lists for allotments, we need a strategy that considers how we could make better use of neglected land that marks the transition from towns to cities.

"Given the cost to individuals and the economy of poor mental health, it makes sense from both a public health and economic perspective to prioritise mental wellbeing."